Grounds Supervisor Earns FNGLA Certification

(Bradenton, Fla., April 25, 2007) - Mike McQueen,
Manatee Community College (MCC) grounds supervisor at MCC
Bradenton, is a Florida Nursery, Growers and Landscape
Association (FNGLA) Certified Horticulture Professional. He
passed an extensive written exam that measures horticulture
knowledge and professional skills, and demonstrated skills in
areas that include plant identification, disease and insect
control, landscape design/management and retail procedures.

McQueen has worked at MCC for eight years. He supervises a
crew of 11 that is responsible for landscaping and maintenance
of the 100-acre MCC Bradenton campus. The campus won a 2006
Beautification Award from the Manatee River Garden Club and a
2003 Public Landscaping Award from Keep Manatee Beautiful.

Established by the FNGLA in the mid-'80s, the Certified
Horticulture Professional Program is designed to increase
professionalism among Florida's growers, landscape
professionals and retail employees. The program is the
industry's only standard for measuring horticultural
knowledge.

"When dealing with horticulture professionals, people want
someone who has the professional know-how to solve horticulture
problems," said Ben Bolusky, FNGLA executive vice president.
"Individuals who take steps toward certification develop the
background needed to answer consumer questions."